Graphic organisers are nothing new. They are an extension of the tools referred to in the Thinking Tools section of this wiki. Graphic organisers can serve a number of purposes:
They help students organise and synthesise information from a number of sources.
They help students develop thinking skills and problem-solving skills.
As students become more proficient in the use of these tools, they should be encouraged to select from the full range rather than be instructed which one they should employ. Through this strategy, students will be able to demonstrate a higher level of cognitive awareness.
For each of the graphic organisers below, click the image to open a copy in Word format.
5 Ws and an H Chart
This tool is especially useful for breaking down complex events. It can be used to analyse historical events or news items very effectively.
This tool is an extension of the Notemaker framework above and is designed to develop two key skills:
The ability to discern fact from opinion.
The ability to synthesise information.
The synthesis aspect of this framework comes when more than one text is used. Students would be required to locate FACTS and OPINIONS in the text before they are asked to REFLECT on how they respond to the useful of the text to their research and, more importantly, how the information in the text confirms or challenges what they have read in the other texts.
KWHL is a planning and research framework that guides students through the process of carrying out research. The acronym means: K - what do I know? W - what do I want to learn? H - how will I find out what I want to learn? L - what did I learn?
KWHL charts are especially useful in planning and carrying out small investigations. Scientific and mathematical experiments lend themselves to this approach as do social science investigations. This approach will work for larger scale projects, although the chart would need to work alongside other strategies. KWHL also requires students to use the 16 Habits of Mind to help students succeed, specifically Applying past knowledge to new situations.
This is a basic notemaking tool for students. It is useful to students select important information and put into into simple point form. Also, it helps students record their sources so that referencing becomes an easier task.
PMI charts are useful to encourage students to consider a number of aspects to a problem. PMI's are especially useful when students are asked to consider a specific proposal. For instance, students in a small community like Kalamunda might be asked to consider a hypothetical situation where a large restaurant chain wants to open a store in their area.
This story map will help students to get ideas together for a short story. Students should try to keep the elements of their story simple. Short stories, by convention, only have one or two major characters and they have only one major conflict or problem.
Structured overviews have a number of functions. Often they are used as a notemaking tool that encourages students to make notes under given headings. Structured overviews can become powerful thinking tools when they are used by students to organise and synthesise information from a number of sources. They force students to categorise the information, then to make notes under these categories.
Venn Diagrams are logical thinking tools that help us to see the relationships between concepts. They help us to see what is unique about each concept and what is held in common between them. The sample below is for a 2 part Venn Diagram, but 3 or more elements diagrams are possible although more complicated.
This tool will help students to organise ideas in preparation for an essay. It can be used to help students write paragraphs and it can be used to help them write entire essays.
Introduction
Table of Contents
As students become more proficient in the use of these tools, they should be encouraged to select from the full range rather than be instructed which one they should employ. Through this strategy, students will be able to demonstrate a higher level of cognitive awareness.
For each of the graphic organisers below, click the image to open a copy in Word format.
5 Ws and an H Chart
This tool is especially useful for breaking down complex events. It can be used to analyse historical events or news items very effectively.
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AERO
AERO is similar to KWHL in many ways, but it engages a number of other thinking skills. The structure of the AREA chart consists of:- Asking an expert
- Experimenting and developing an experiment design
- Reading or viewing texts relating to your area of research
- Observing using the senses
Aside from research skills, it engages some of the 16 Habits of Mind, most notably Gathering data through all senses, Thinking flexibly and Listening with understanding and empathy.Back to top
FOR Chart
This tool is an extension of the Notemaker framework above and is designed to develop two key skills:
- The ability to discern fact from opinion.
- The ability to synthesise information.
The synthesis aspect of this framework comes when more than one text is used. Students would be required to locate FACTS and OPINIONS in the text before they are asked to REFLECT on how they respond to the useful of the text to their research and, more importantly, how the information in the text confirms or challenges what they have read in the other texts.Back to top
KWHL
KWHL is a planning and research framework that guides students through the process of carrying out research. The acronym means:K - what do I know?
W - what do I want to learn?
H - how will I find out what I want to learn?
L - what did I learn?
KWHL charts are especially useful in planning and carrying out small investigations. Scientific and mathematical experiments lend themselves to this approach as do social science investigations. This approach will work for larger scale projects, although the chart would need to work alongside other strategies. KWHL also requires students to use the 16 Habits of Mind to help students succeed, specifically Applying past knowledge to new situations.
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Notemaker
This is a basic notemaking tool for students. It is useful to students select important information and put into into simple point form. Also, it helps students record their sources so that referencing becomes an easier task.Back to top
Persuasion Map
This tool is useful for formulating persuasive arguments. Click on the image for the landscape version, or click here for the portrait version.
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PMI
PMI charts are useful to encourage students to consider a number of aspects to a problem. PMI's are especially useful when students are asked to consider a specific proposal. For instance, students in a small community like Kalamunda might be asked to consider a hypothetical situation where a large restaurant chain wants to open a store in their area.Back to top
Story Map
This story map will help students to get ideas together for a short story. Students should try to keep the elements of their story simple. Short stories, by convention, only have one or two major characters and they have only one major conflict or problem.
Back to top
Structured Overview
Structured overviews have a number of functions. Often they are used as a notemaking tool that encourages students to make notes under given headings. Structured overviews can become powerful thinking tools when they are used by students to organise and synthesise information from a number of sources. They force students to categorise the information, then to make notes under these categories.
Back to top
Venn Diagram
Venn Diagrams are logical thinking tools that help us to see the relationships between concepts. They help us to see what is unique about each concept and what is held in common between them. The sample below is for a 2 part Venn Diagram, but 3 or more elements diagrams are possible although more complicated.
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Writing Blueprint
This tool will help students to organise ideas in preparation for an essay. It can be used to help students write paragraphs and it can be used to help them write entire essays.Back to top